Roenning, Kuitunen Win Italian CL Races

Thu, Dec
14, 2006 - By US Ski Team

COGNE, Italy (Dec. 13) - Men's World Cup leader Eldar Roenning of
Norway padded his points lead Wednesday by winning a 15K classic
technique race while Finn Virpi Kuitunen took the women's World Cup
lead by winning a 10K CL race. No Americans raced.

In races
postponed from Sunday because of poor snow conditions, and run on a
2.5K loop, Roenning - skiing last in the field of 89 - overtook
teammate Tor Arne Hetland in the final stretch to win by 3.6 seconds in
39:05.0. The top eight racers were 10.1 seconds apart. Kuitunen led all
the way to win by more than a half-minute in 26:44.5; previous - and
defending - World Cup leader Marit Bjoergen of Norway never got rolling
and finished 17th.